Over the years, three side trails have developed from regional interests branching off the main Loccum-Volkenroda path. These side trails offer the opportunity to try out a closed circular walk of no more than four daily stages to find out whether pilgrimages make sense for you and hiking is fun.  * Side Trail I: Neustadt am Rübenberge and Eilvese * Side Trail II: Hessisch-Oldendorf and Rintel * Side Trail III: Monastery Path (total length 79 km) The Side Trail III connects several preserved and abandoned monasteries. The path takes you from Mühlhausen and the Hülfenberg Monastery, which since the late Middle Ages has been an important pilgrimage site in the Catholic-influenced Eichsfeld, through the Eichsfeld-Hainich-Werratal Nature Park back to Mühlhausen. * Stage 1: From Mühlhausen to Küllstedt (29 km) * Stage 2: From Küllstedt to Hülfenberg Monastery (22 km) * Stage 3: From Hülfenberg Monastery to Zella Monastery (11 km) * Stage 4: From Zella Monastery back to Mühlhausen (17 km)

Over the years, three side routes have emerged from regional interests along the main path Loccum-Volkenroda. These side routes offer the possibility to try out on a closed circular route of at most four day stages whether one finds meaning in pilgrimage and enjoys hiking. * Side Route I: Neustadt am Rübenberge and Eilvese * Side Route II: Hessisch-Oldendorf and Rintel * Side Route III: Mühlhausen (total length 79 km) Side Route III connects several preserved and abandoned monasteries. The path leads you from Mühlhausen and the monastery Hülfensberg, which has been an important pilgrimage site in the Catholic Eichsfeld since the late Middle Ages, through the Eichsfeld-Hainich-Werratal Nature Park back to Mühlhausen. * Stage 1: From Mühlhausen to Küllstedt (29 km) * Stage 2: From Küllstedt to the monastery Hülfensberg (22 km) * Stage 3: From monastery Hülfensberg to monastery Zella (11 km) * Stage 4: From monastery Zella to Mühlhausen (17 km)

Over the years, three side paths have emerged from regional interests on the main trail Loccum-Volkenroda. These side paths offer, on the one hand, the opportunity to try out on a closed circular route of a maximum of four daily stages whether you find meaning in pilgrimages and enjoy hiking.  * Side path I: Neustadt am Rübenberge and Eilvese * Side path II: Hessisch-Oldendorf and Rintel * Side path III: Klosterpfad (total length 79 km)  The side path III connects several preserved and abandoned monasteries. The path leads you from Mühlhausen and the Kloster Hülfensberg, which has been an important pilgrimage site in the Catholic-influenced Eichsfeld since the late Middle Ages, through the Eichsfeld-Hainich-Werratal Nature Park and back to Mühlhausen. * Stage 1: From Mühlhausen to Küllstedt (29 km) * Stage 2: From Küllstedt to Kloster Hülfensberg (22 km) * Stage 3: From Kloster Hülfensberg to Kloster Zella (11 km) * Stage 4: From Kloster Zella to Mühlhausen (17 km)

Associated with the main path Loccum-Volkenroda, three side routes have developed over the years out of regional interests. These side routes offer, among other things, the possibility to try out on a closed circular route of at most four day stages whether pilgrimaging makes sense and hiking is fun. * Side Route I: Neustadt am Rübenberge and Eilvese * Side Route II: Hessisch-Oldendorf and Rintel * Side Route III: Klosterpfad (total length 79 km) Side Route III links several preserved and abandoned monasteries. The route leads you from Mühlhausen and the Kloster Hülfsberg, which has been an important pilgrimage site in the Catholic-influenced Eichsfeld since the late Middle Ages, through the Eichsfeld-Hainich-Werratal Nature Park back to Mühlhausen. * Stage 1: From Mühlhausen to Küllstedt * Stage 2: From Küllstedt to Kloster Hülfsberg * Stage 3: From Kloster Hülfsberg to Kloster Zella * Stage 4: From Kloster Zella to Mühlhausen (17 km)

Normannstein Castle, a medieval, predominantly Romanesque fortress, was built in the 11th century as a watchtower to protect the three fords running through the Werra River that gave the town its name. The history of five Werra castles is presented today in a permanent exhibition "Werra Castles over Werra Fords" in the large square tower. The founding of Zella Monastery in southern Eichsfeld is assumed to be around or even well before 1100 as a double monastery (for men and women). The Peasants' War only slightly affected the monastery. In 1525, the monastery was plundered but not destroyed. Following the Reformation, all conventuals left Zella Monastery—except the prioress, who adhered to Luther's teachings. Mühlhausen, known as the city of towers, gates, and churches, had no direct connection with Luther regarding the Free Imperial City of Mühlhausen. The radical theologian Thomas Müntzer, who was then working as a pastor and once Luther's companion, led the local rebellious peasants. During the Peasants' War, the city was the center of Thuringia. Luther tried to convince the peasants through arguments and published on May 10, 1525, the article "Against the Robberly and Murderous Hordes of Peasants"—a memorandum intended to clarify that one cannot enforce rights by violence but must hope for divine help. In this writing, Thomas Müntzer is referred to as the "arch-devil of Mühlhausen," someone to be warned against. On May 15, 1525, the peasants' army under Thomas Müntzer's leadership was almost entirely destroyed in the Battle of Bad Frankenhausen. Müntzer himself survived the battle, was arrested, tortured, and beheaded on May 27 in Mühlhausen. The cultural and town history reports about "St. Marien" that imperial legal decisions were pronounced here, the town council election cantata of the young J.S. Bach was performed for the first time, and Thomas Müntzer preached here. The church today serves as a Müntzer memorial, a venue for musical events, and also religious life. The interior of the Kornmarkt Church, which was deconsecrated in 1802, houses a Peasants' War museum featuring an exhibition on the course, highlights, and aftermath of the German Peasants' War in the context of the period and as part of German national history.

A walkable city wall, churches, the town hall, attractive townhouses, and significant courtyards are among the sights of the city that was the most important in Thuringia after Erfurt in the Middle Ages. During the Peasants' War, the city was the center of Thuringia. The radical theologian Thomas Müntzer, who was a preacher at that time and a former companion of Luther, was the intellectual leader of the insurgents. Luther personally never stayed in the once Free Imperial City. Nevertheless, Mühlhausen played an important role during the Reformation and the German Peasants' War due to the work of Thomas Müntzer. In the 15th century, criticism against the grievances in the church grew louder. It mingled with an apocalyptic mood, triggered not least by the plague epidemics in Europe. At the same time, the economy changed. Trade flourished, but peasants and day laborers became impoverished. Thomas Müntzer pinpointed this situation and the current mood of life and radicalized it: he mixed elements of medieval mysticism with those of the apocalypse and shaped his theology of revolution from it. He interpreted the uprisings as the beginning of divine judgment. Exploiters were to be judged with the sword. Crucial for his role in the Peasants' War is that Thomas Müntzer not only sought a reform of the church but a revolution of political conditions. And he also considered violence legitimate. Martin Luther, on the other hand, called for obedience to the authorities. When this had no effect, he recommended a brutal approach against the insurgents: "... one should smash them, strangle them, stab them, secretly and openly, whoever can, as one must kill a mad dog." He called Thomas Müntzer the devil of Allstedt. The former fellow traveler of Luther had become the disliked brother. The permanent exhibition at the Mühlhausen museums is entirely dedicated to Martin Luther's bitter opponent Thomas Müntzer. A special highlight is a faithful replica of the richly decorated sword that Thomas Müntzer is said to have carried in the bloody battle on May 15, 1525, near Bad Frankenhausen. After the heavy defeat of the insurgents, the troublesome preacher was finally captured, tortured, and later beheaded by an executioner. Starting from Mühlhausen, the Lutherweg leads to Oberdorla. Worth seeing here is the collegiate church of Saint Peter and Paul. At the portal of the Romanesque church are two already heavily weathered but very impressive depictions of apostles. The next stations are the places Langula, Kammerforst, and Craula. From here, a detour to the treetop path and the root cave at the National Park Center Thiemsburg in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Hainich National Park is worthwhile.

Behind Friedland, the pilgrimage route leads over meadows, through forest and fields, past Steinkopf, to Reiffenhausen 4 km away. After a further 2 km, the former GDR border, the former “death strip”, is reached. Only a few concrete slabs of the patrol path remember of it. Meanwhile, the border strip has become a species-rich biotope with rare plants and animals. Today the state border to Thuringia is crossed at this point and the Eichsfeld is reached. In the Catholic-influenced Eichsfeld, pilgrims repeatedly encounter pilgrimage chapels of different eras; pilgrimages have an unbroken tradition here. The first chapel is located just a few meters next to the state border. Only after reunification was the Magdalenenkapelle accessible again. From the state border, the route leads to Rustenfelde 2 km away below the striking dome of the Rusteberg, where in the Middle Ages the castle of the steward of the Mainz archbishops stood. The path continues past Burgwalde. There you have the opportunity to see the first church in Germany under monument protection, on whose roof a photovoltaic system is installed. From there, there is a stations path to the old sacrificial site where the Bonifatius chapel stands. On Pentecost Sunday, many believers gather there annually for pilgrimage. The route continues through Steinheuterode and Rengelrode to the spa town of Heiligenstadt, 13 km away. The small, medieval influenced old town offers many sights with its numerous churches and chapels.

In Heiligenstadt, it is possible to choose an alternative route to Dingelstädt via Gut Beinrode as an intermediate station (stage 16b and 17b). On this route, you ascend steeply from Heiligenstadt to the wooded ridge of the Dün. This offers a wonderful view back over Heiligenstadt and the Eichsfeld. After 5 km, an elevation of 435 m above sea level is reached. Here stands a large wooden cross, which was already widely visible as a symbol of the firmly rooted Christian faith in Eichsfeld during GDR times. Before reaching Geisleden, 4 km away, the path bends widely around the Dachstal. Beyond Geisleden, the route leads from Heuthen over the watershed between Leine and Unstrut (Weser and Elbe) at an altitude of 480 m, past the Werdigeshäuser pilgrimage chapel St. Cyriakus, to Kefferhausen, where the Unstrut originates. After a total of 11 km from Geisleden, Dingelstädt is reached.

Until the center of Mühlhausen, the pilgrim's route follows the Unstrut. It goes through the villages Silberhausen, Helmsdorf, Zella, Horsmar, Dachrieden, Reiser, and Ammern. Everywhere there are worth seeing churches and other historic buildings. Just behind Zella, which you reach after 7 km, you cross the remains of the Mühlhäuser Landgraben (14th century). The Mühlhäuser Landgraben is still the denominational boundary between the catholic Eichsfeld (stage 15) and the protestant-influenced area of the former free imperial city of Mühlhausen. After another 9 km you reach Reiser. Mühlhausen is soon reached from the north, already visible from afar by the church towers that still shape the city's silhouette today. There are numerous and also affordable accommodation options for pilgrims.

From the historic old town in the center of Mühlhausen you go to the Catholic St. Josef Church, then at the train station left under the railway underpass to Görmar, 2 km away, past the Martini Church with its striking yellow half-timbered tower. Now the path follows the Unstrut for 3 km, then the Notter. After 1 km a railway line is crossed. Then it goes into a romantic-old, hilly meadow orchard, where Adonis flowers bloom in spring. From here the path leads to Kleingrabe, past the ruins of the St. Albanus church. In Kleingrabe, just behind the former railway line, which is being expanded into a cycle path, an old monastery path, the Eselstieg, goes 4 km up to the Volkenroda monastery. After more than 280 km, the goal of the pilgrimage route has now been reached. Here in Volkenroda, monks set out in 1163 to found Loccum. A little behind the monastery, along the road in the direction of Obermehler, past the "1000-year-old oak tree", you will find the counterpart to the "Begin and End" pilgrimage monument known from Loccum.